Clothesline support



March 16, 1954 H. F. BESELER CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Filed April '14, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. I2

March 16, 1954 BESELER 2,672,242

CLO'iHESLINE SUPPORT Filed April 14, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar.16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Herman F.Beseler, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 14, 1949, Serial No. 87,453

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a post structure for a clothesline support.

It is now a common practice to have posts disposed in a yard of aresidence or other building, which posts usually have a cross armadjacent the top thereof with a plurality of spaced hooks or other meansfor holding a clothesline secured in said cross arm. There are usuallytwo or more posts with such cross arm. Such struc tures while useful forsupporting the clothesline and clothes are unsightly and mar theappearance of the yard, especially when it is desired to have a lawn orflower beds in the yard or to have a landscaped yard giving a pleasingappearance.

It is an object of this invention to provide a structure of clotheslinesupport or post which will appear as a simple post, to the top of whichmay be applied a bird house, bell or other ornamental structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a structure ofclothesline support or post comprising a post and a member carriedthereby swingable or movable to horizontal position and having means tobe engaged by a clothesline for supporting the latter, which member andmeans is swingable to vertical position within the periphery of saidpost so that when not in use it can be swung to said latter position andappears as just part of the post.

It is another object of the invention to provide a clothesline supportcomprising a post, a member carried thereby swingable to horizontalposition and swingable to vertical position within the periphery of saidpost, said member having therein one or more reels rotatably mountedtherein for carrying clotheslines, together with means for holding saidreels in stationary position, said member and reels being movable tovertical position within the periphery of said post.

It is further an objectof the invention to provide a clothesline supportcomprising a post, a member pivoted intermediate the ends thereof andswingable to substantially horizontal posi-- tion, said member carryinga lurality of means for engaging a clothesline, said member beingswingable to substantially vertical position within the periphery ofsaid post and having outer surfaces which are flush with and form ineffect part of the periphery of said post.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the device, a portion beingbroken away;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in side elevation as seen from the right ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing some parts in differentpositions;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line AA of Fig. 2, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of thedevice;

Fig. 6 is a partial diagonal view of a portion of the device showing amodified form;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6 withthe operating crank removed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an operating crank used;

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal section;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the parts in differentpositions;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the parts in differentpositions, other positions being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 12 is a partial view in front elevation of one form of theinvention;

Fig. 13 is a partial vertical section taken on line B-B of Fig. 11, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a partial view in side elevation of one form of the device,some parts being broken away;

Fig. 15 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on line l5l5of Fig. 19, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a partial view in front elevation showing a modified form ofthe device;

Fig. 17 is a partial top plan view of a portion of the device shown inFig. 14 showing an arrangement of clotheslines;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a crank used;

Fig. 19 is a horizontal section taken on line CC of Fig. 15 as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 20 is a partial view in side elevation showing a modification;

Fig. 21 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a partial view in side elevation showing a furthermodification;

Fig. 23 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a view in front elevation showing a modified form of thedevice, some parts being indicated in difierent positions in dottedlines, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 25 is a view in side elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal section taken on line D-D of Fig. 24, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 2'7 is a partial view in side elevation showing a modification; and

Fig. 28 is a view in front elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 27.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 4, a, device is showncomprising a post 30. Post 30 extends vertically and while it could bevariously supported, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated itis shown as being secured in a body of material 3!, such as concrete,disposed in the ground. While post 36 could take various shapes, inFigs. 1 to 4 it is illustrated as of cylindrical form. Post 30 has areduced portion 30a at its upper part and has a cap 31 secured to thetop of reduced portion 360. which forms the support for an ornamental orutilitarian device, such as the bird house 32 shown. Post 36intermediate its ends is provided with hubs 30b in which is disposed apivot member 33. While pivot 33 could take various forms, it is shown asa headed rivet. A member 34 is provided having a hub 34a supportedonpivot 33 and swingable about the axis of pivot 33. Member 34 extendsequal distances above and below pivot 33 so that the hub 34a is at thelongitudinal center of member 34. It will be noted that post 30 hasslots 300 at opposite sides thereof forming an opening through said postand that member 34 is disposed in said opening. Member 34 is generallyin the form of a channel having a bottom or web 34b and sides or flanges34c. Flanges 340 are curved in accordance with the periphery of post 36so that the outer sides of flanges 340 are disposed substantially in thesame circle as the periphery of post 30. As shown, the inner sides offlanges 340 are disposed substantially in the same circle as the innersides of post 33 although this is not essential. Member 34 has securedthereto in spaced relation along one side or flange 340 a plurality ofmembers 35 adapted to be engaged by a clothesline and while these mighttake difierent forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustratedthey are shown as hooks disposed in planes at right angles to the web341). One side of post 30 and web 34b are provided with aligned holes30d and 34f respectively adapted to receive a headed pin 36 when member34 is in vertical position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Member 34 isprovided with another hole. 34f adapted to be brought into aligmnentwith hole 30d to receive pin 36 when member 34 is in horizontalposition, asshown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. a post 46 is shown, the same being rectangular in cross sectionand illustrated as substantially square in cross section. Post 40 hashubs 40a intermediate its ends which are bored to receive a pivot member4!. While member 4| could take various forms, it is shown as a headedrivet or bolt. A member 42 has a hub 42,; at its longitudinal centerwhich is bored to receive member 4| and member 42' is. rotatable aboutthe axis of member 4|. have a length substantially the same as memberMember 42' will 34 and post 40 will have slots at opposite sides toaccommodate the swinging movement of member 42. Member 42 is in the formof a channel and the exterior surfaces of its sides are substantiallyflush with the outer surfaces of the sides of post 46. Member 42 can beswung to vertical and horizontal positions just as can member 34 andwhen in vertical position does not project beyond the sides of post 40and in effect forms part of the post. Member 42 will be provided with aplurality of spaced members 43 similar to members 35 and shown in theform of hooks, the same being adapted to be engaged by a clothesline.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a member 46 is shown which will be similar to andmounted in the same manner as member 42. A stud 4'! is secured in theside or web 46a of member 46 substantially midway between the sides orflanges 46b, the same projecting into the member 46 and having journaledthereon a reel 48. Reel 48 has a flange at each side and the flangeadjacent web 4341 is provided with teeth to form a ratchet. A pawl 49 ismounted on a pivot 56 secured in web 460. and adapted to engage theteeth of said ratchet. A tensile coiled spring Si is secured at one endto a pin 52 secured in pawl 49 and is connected at its other end to apin 53 secured in web 460 A stop pin 54 for pawl 49 is also secured inweb 46a. Spring 5i thus moves pawl 49 in position to engage the teeth ofthe ratchet on reel 48. The outer flange of reel 43 is provided with a,square hole adapted to receive a projection 55a of square cross sectionextending from one end of a crank 55 having a handle 5512. A spring '56of plate form is reversely bent to engage the clothesline wound on reel43', said spring being secured at one end to one of the flanges 4673 byrivets 51. Member 46 is provided with a plurality of hooks 58 similar tohooks 35 and 43, the same being spaced longitudinally thereof andsecured to the lower flange 46b.

The member 46 will be swung to horizontal position and will be held inhorizontal position by pin 36 in the same manner as is member 34. Theoperator can then take hold of the end of the clothesline 66 and placeit around one of the hooks 58 and take it to the member on the otherpost or support. At this time pawl 49 would be released from theratchet. Crank 55 can be used to tighten the line, and the ratchet andpawl will hold it in tightened condition. After the clothes are driedand removed the clothesline can again be wound up on reel 48, crank 55removed and member 46 swung to vertical position in the post in which itis carried. Crank 55 could be conveniently placed in member 46 abovereel 48 and spring 56.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a post 62 is shown which is traversed by a pivotmember 63 on which is carried and swingable a member 64. Post 62 hasslots 620. at opposite sides thereof and above and below pivot 63respectively. It will be noted that member 64 has offset portions atopposite sides of pivot 63. Member 64 is swingable to vertical position,asv shown in Fig. 9. When in vertical position the surface which is notoffset is substantially flush with the outer surface of the post,v asshown in Fig. 9. The oiiset surface enables the member 62 to swing tosuch position. Post 62 is provided with a hole 621) and member 64 isprovided with. a plurality of spaced holes 6411 and with another hole64b. A headed pin 65 can be placed through hole 62b and through one ofthe holes 64a or through holes 64b to hold member 64 in the desiredposition. A hook B6 is provided at the inner side of post 92 adjacentthe lower end of the slot 62a. A small lever 61 is pivoted to member 64to a small lug 64c and has a slot at its lower end in which the upperend of hook 66 is disposed. Should member 64 be inclined to stick in itsvertical position the operator can place his finger over the top oflever 61 and pull it outwardly which will swing the lower end of member64 outwardly and start its swinging movement. In Figs. 9 and 10 members62 and 64 are shown as of angular cross section. Member 64 is providedat its lower side with a plurality of spaced clothesline engagingmembers 68 which may take the form of hooks.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a structure is shown substantially identical withthat shown in Figs. 9 and 10 except that the posts 72 are of cylindricalform or in the form of pipes. The member I4 corresponding to member 94will have the outer surfaces of its sides 14a curved so as to besubstantially flush with the periphery of posts I2 when member I4 is invertical position. Member I4 is mounted upon a pivot I3 similar to pivot63 and is provided with holes Mb adapted to receive a pin I5 similar topin 65. If a heavy rug or other extra long piece of material or an extralong garment is hung at one side of pivot I3, pin I5 could be placed inthe outer hole 14b at that side. Post I2 has a hook I9 and a lever '11pivoted to a lug I20, said lever and hook having a structure andfunction similar to those of lever 91 and hooks 65. Member I4 has aplurality of clothesline holding members 78 which, as shown in Fig. 13,may take the form of hooks. A lever I9 is pivoted to rivet I3 and has aportion embracing pin I5. Lever I9 is offset outwardly at its upper endand can be pulled outwardly to withdraw pin I5.

In Figs. 20 and 21 a member 89 is shown which is in the form of an angleiron having sides at right angles and could represent the member 62shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Member 89 has a stud 8| secured thereinadjacent its outer end and a smaller angle member 82 is pivoted on stud8|, the same having a rounded or semi-circular inner end. Member 32 canthus be swung inwaardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.21. Members 89 and 82 are provided with clothesline holding hooks 83.With such a construction member 82 would be swung to its inner.

position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 20 and it would then be swungwith member 80 to vertical position when the device was not in use.

In Figs. 22 and 23 a member 84 is shown which could take the place ofmember 64 and the same is in the form of an angle bar having flanges atright angles to each other. A stud 86 is secured in one flange of member84 adjacent the outer end thereof. A smaller angle bar 81 is provided,the same having a vertical flange with a longitudinal slot S'Iaextending therein through which stud 86 projects. With this constructionmember 81 can be slidably moved inwardly to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 22. Members 84 and 87 are shown as provided withclothesline holding hooks 88. In operation when the clothesline was tobe used and member 84 was in horizontal position member 87 would bemoved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 22 just as member 82would be moved to the full line position shown in Fig. 20. When thedevice was to be placed in inoperative position member 81 would be movedinwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig, 22 and it would thenbe 6 swung with member 84 to vertical position within the supportingpost.

In Figs. 14 to 19 a form of the invention is shown in which some partsare absent and a member similar to member 64 is shown, the same beingmounted on a pivot member 9| shown as a headed belt or rivet extendingthrough the sides of a post 92. Member 90 at each side of pivot member9| has secured thereto a bracket 90a and a reel 93 has a shaft journaledin said bracket and the opposite side of member 99, which member, asshown in Fig. 19, is in the form of an angle bar. Reel 93 has flanges ateither side and the flange adjacent the side of member 90 is in the formof a ratchet.

Said ratchet is arranged to be engaged by a pawl 94 swingable on a pivot95 secured in member 99 and adapted at times to engage a stop pin 96'secured in member 90. A tensile coiled spring 97 is secured at one endto a pin 98 secured in pawl 94 and secured at its other end to a pin 99secured in member 99. The shaft of reel 93 extends through bracket 99aand is provided with a square hole or socket adapted to receive aprojection IODa. of square cross section extending from a clip I00slidable on the shank of a crank IIII having a handle IIIIa. Clip I09may be secured in various positions on said shank by a set screw I92.Hooks I93 are secured to mem ber 99 adjacent the reels 93 and areadapted to have the end of the clotheslines secured thereto when thedevice is in inoperative position or to have the lines pass thereoverwhen the clothesline is in use.

A reel I95 having end flanges 15a is disposed in post 92 below member 99and carried on a shaft I96 journaled in the sides of said post. ShaftI99 has a ratchet IU'I secured thereto at the outer side of post 92 andsaid ratchet is arranged to be engaged by a pawl I93 pivoted to post 92by a pivot I99. Pawl I 08 is moved toward ratchet II" by atensile-coiled spring IIII having one end secured to a pin I I I fixedin post 92 and its other end secured to a pin I I2 secured to pawl I98.A pin I I3 fixed in the side of post 92 forms a stop for pawl I98. Aline 4 may be wound on reel I95 and pass along a rivet I22 through anapertured bushing H9 in one side of post 92. Member 99 is provided witha hole 9% adapted to alternately receive a pin II! which may be passedthrough either one of two holes 921) in post 92. Screws III! in brackets99a en-' gage reels 93 and act as brakes.

When the device is in inoperative position it will occupy the positionshown in Figs. 15 and 19. Member 99 at this time will extend verticallyand the parts carried thereby will be disposed within post 92. The outerside of member 90 will form in efiect a continuation of the sides ofpost 92. These outer sides of member 90 will, as shown in Fig. 15, bedisposed at opposite sides of the post above and below the pivot member9|. When the lines are to be strung pin III will; be withdrawn andmember 90 swung to a position at right angles to post 92, as shown inFig. 14. Pin Hi can then be inserted in the proper holes 9017 and 92b tohold member 99 in this position. The lines I20 can now be drawn from thereels 93 over the hooks I03, pawls 94 being released from ratchets onthe flanges of reels 93. The ends of lines I29 will be made fast tosuitable stationary supports, such as hooks I2I, secured in suitablesupports I23. When the lines are no longer needed their ends will bedisconnected from hooks I2 I, pawls 94 will be moved to engage theratchets on the reels 93 and said reels will be turned by crank IElI torewind the lines on the reels. The ends of the lines can be secured tothe hooks I03, as shown in Fig. 15. When the member 90 is again swung tovertical position within the post the post merely presents theappearance of an ornamental post supporting a bird house or othersuitable ornament.

In Figs. 24 and 25 a post I30 is shown and while this could take variousforms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown assquare or rectangular in transverse cross section. A member I3I isprovided and constructed to substantially fit in a recess I30a in oneside of post I30 and to be pivoted to said post by a pivot I32. Whilepivot I32 could'take various forms, it is illustrated as a headed rivet.Member I3I is pivoted substantially at its longitudinal midpoint andwill be provided with holes I3Ia adapted to receive a pin I33 insertablethrough a hole in post I30 to hold member I3I in vertical or horizontalposition. Member I3I is provided at its inner side with a plurality ofspaced hooks I34 to which clotheslines may be attached. Post I30 ispivoted adjacent its bottom on a headed and. nutted bolt I33 to spacedstandards comprising spaced plates I3I suitably anchored in a concretebase I4I. Post I30 is provided with a hole I301) adjacent its bottomadapted to receive another headed and nutted bolt I38 for holding saidpost in vertical position. Post I30 is shown as having an upper portionI300 cylindrical in form and of reduced transverse dimension having atits top a cap I30d which supports a bird house I40.

When the device is not in use it will be in the position shown in Fig.25. At this time post I30 is in vertical position and member I3I is invertical position. The outer sides of member I3I are substantially fiushwith the sides of the post I30 respectively and post I30 merely forms anornamental support. When the clotheslines are to be strung, pin I33 willbe withdrawn and member I3I swung to horizontal position. Pin I33 willthen be inserted in the hole I3Ia to hold member [Si in horizontalposition. The lines can now be attached to the hooks I34 and used in theusual manner. When the lines are taken down member I3I will again beswung to vertical position and secured in this position by pin I33.Should access be desired to the bird house I40, post I30 can be swungabout bolt I36 by removing bolt I38, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 24.

In Figs. 27 and 28 a post I42 is shown illustrated as square orrectangular in cross section. Post I42 will be suitably supported at itsbase and may be supported as is post I30. It has a reduced cylindricalportion at its upper end which will be provided with a suitable cap tosupport a bird house or other ornament. Post I42 has an opening I42aextending transversely therethrough, this opening being rectangular intransverse section. Slots I421) will be formed in the side of post I42and angle members I43 are provided, the same having rounded ends andbeing pivoted on spaced pivots I43b to post I42. Each member I43 hasconnected thereto a link I44, the other end of which carries a pin I45extending through one of the slots I 42b. Pin I45 will preferably have ahead I45a at the inner side of slot I421). 'Each member- I 43 isprovided with a plurality of hooks I46 adapted to have clotheslinessecured thereto.

When the device is not in use, members I43 will be swung to verticalposition and the sides I43a thereof will have their outer surfaces flushwith the outer surfaces of post I42. Sides I43a will substantially fillthe opening I42a so that the post will appear just as an ordinary squarepost. When it is desired to string the lines the members I43 will beswung to horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 27, in which positionthey will be held by the links I44. The lines can now be attached tohooks I43 and used in the customary manner. Members I43 will be arrangedto move with sufiicient friction to hold them in vertical position.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided aclothesline support which when not in use forms a support for anornament such as a bird house, bell, etc., and which does not in any waymar the appearance of the yard, grounds or lawn. The device can veryeasily and quickly be placed in operativeposition for stringing thelines and the lines can be very quickly and conveniently handled bymeans of the mechanism above described. A very desirable, useful andeflicient device is thus provided. It will be apparent that the samewill have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants'invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A post structure for a clothesline support having in combination, apost having substantially vertical side surfaces, a member pivoted tosaid post to swing about a substantially horizontal axis to horizontalposition, said axis being disposed substantially midway between the endsof said member, a plurality of reels rotatably mounted within saidmember, a ratchet at one side of each of said reels, a pawl disposed torespectively engage said 'ratchets to hold said reels in stationaryposition, brakes for respectively retarding rotation of said reels, saidmember, ratchets, pawls and brakes being swingable to vertical positionwithin the periphery of said post with the outer surface of said memberdisposed substantially in said periphery.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, members respectively carried bysaid first mentioned member at one side of each of said reels forguiding clotheslines respectively disposed about said reels, said lastmentioned members being swingable with said first mentioned member tovertical position within the periphery of said post.

3. A post structure for a clothesline support having in combination, apost having substantially vertical sides, a pivot extending horizontallyof said post, a member swingable about the axis of said pivot tosubstantially horizontal position, said axis being disposedsubstantially midway between the ends of said member, said post havingslots therethrough above and below said pivot at opposite sides thereofrespectively, said member being swingable through said slots, means forholding said member in horizontal and vertical positions, said memberbeing of channel form, a reel disposed in said member between the sidesof said channel, guiding means for a clothesline said guide means beingdisposed adjacent said reel and carried by said member,

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